Draft prospects - Who do we want?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

We also have to remember that Okafor is a freshman and Kaminsky is a Senior. That is a huge difference in age and experience. I thought he held his own defensively. Kaminsky is arguably the best college player in the country. It's not like he was absolutely dominating Okafor. Jahil got some nice stops against him and also got burned a couple of times.

The thing I don't like about Okafor is that he runs out of gas so quickly. He's probably a guy that will need to work on his diet and aerobic fitness levels, similar to a lot of bigs when they first enter the NBA.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

The one thing about Okafor's performance tonight is that there isn't a 5 in the NBA that takes guys off the dribble from the 3pt line like Kaminsky did tonight. I thought his defense was fine in every area except being taken off the dribble by Kaminsky where he was torched. That was a tough matchup for him and his only shot to outperform Kaminsky was to take him to the woodshed in the post and even try to draw some fouls on him, but he missed some bunnies and Kaminsky played him physical without fouling for the most part.

In my opinion, this game just further solidified that I want Towns over Okafor.

Kaminsky was torching Towns so bad they had to switch WCS on him to keep them in the game. Towns did no better than Okafor defensively against Kaminsky.

This isn't true since most of the time Kaminsky wound up switched onto Booker

Booker was getting switched onto Dekker. WCS was on Kaminsky in the post and he would recover to him in the PnR. Or did you just miss that part when he recovered around his own teammate to block Kaminsky?

[thedoper]

Winslow reminds me of Artest. Not sure he will ever be much of an offensive threat but could provide a lot to a winning team. Wouldn't really solve our problem of talented size and go to scoring. But if we miss on Towns/ Okafor, I would be happy if we could turn our pick into a wing like winslow and a tier 2 big.

[bleedspeed]

I like Winslow. I like that he would be a bigger body at the wing and be a good complement to Wiggins. I wouldn't take him before Russell or Mudiay. though I actually think I might go with Russell first in this draft if we got the first pick. We are in such a BPA situation. Wiggins is the only player we really have as a building block and he can play both SG and SF. Winslow would work great next to him as a 2 way player.

(I don't want another season that hangs in the balance of Rubio's health that is for sure.)

[Monster]

I do think people are downplaying WCS a ability to switch out and D up perimeter guys but I think it's partly because they see the other weaknesses in his game. It's a pretty big strength and it's one of the reasons why KG and Ben Wallace were 2 of the best defensive players of my lifetime. I am not suggesting WCS is going to have that type of impact but let's give him his due in his projected strengths. I think there are plenty of weeknesses to nitpick.

KG and Big Ben could rebound though. He's very one-dimensional right now in what he provides, which is a rangy and versatile big that can guard multiple positions and get a lot of deflections. Granted, that's a pretty damn good skill to have in today's NBA, which is why he'll be in the top 10. On the other hand, we know he won't be much of an offensive player or rebounder. And defensively, we really don't know how he'll do when someone puts a shoulder into his chest. Will he hold his ground or give way for easy looks at the rim?

Well said Q. Personally, what I see in watching WCS is the best perimeter and help defender in college. The issue is that he is not nearly the defender on the interior against size....which needs to be his bread and butter in order to become a dominant NBA player. I have not seen this from him.

I totally agree with what both of you are saying. Give him his due in a real area of strength and worry about his actual weaknesses. I say play him at PFS next to a scoring C that rebounds welland you may have something pretty valuable.

[Monster]

You know who else cannot dribble drive, shoot jump shots, or command a double in the post? Rudy Gobert. And he's OLDER than WCS.

True in terms of offense, but defensively there are differences. For as long as WCS is, his standing reach is still 5 inches shorter than Gobert's. Rudy is a physical freak in terms of his length. The other thing is that Gobert can rebound the hell out of the ball, something WCS hasn't improved upon a bit in his three years of college. And Rudy is barely a year older, so it's not like there is a huge difference in terms of age.

Gobert is an outlier and in some ways so is WCS because of his unique athletic ability and skill. Maybe WCS will toughen up and be a strong post defender and a better offensive player than he has shown. Nobody thought Noah would be the terrific all around player he is today. How high do you pick WCS? Idk that's the question I think even his biggest detractors here would be interested in adding him to the team because of his abilities on defense.

[Monster]

Ultimately we are being hard on Okafor who is a Freshman bigman playing against the best in the country. But that's what you do when you are looking at a top 3 pick. People say Kaminsky is a tough cover and won't face anything like that in the NBA. Well okafor will have a rude awaking when he faces Cousins for the first time because he can take you off the dribble beat the hell out of you in the post and foul you out in a few minutes. I think people underestimate the athletic ability of NBA centers which is maybe the deepest the position it's been in my lifetime. If Kaminsky gave Okafor trouble wait till he has to face Marc Gasol or has to get rebounds from guys like deandre jordan. Okafor has some nice strengths but I am concerned with his weaknesses. One of my friends watched the game last night and said Okafor didn't even look like a top pick. Of course he said its one game but there are some real concerns about the guy. I will be fine if we pick him I just realize there are some holes and of course every prospect has some. I take Towns all day over Okafor and Towns is NOT just potential.

[mrhockey89]

The Final Four tourney really added some concerns for me about many of the top prospects.

Okafor has some nice post moves and seems to use his body well, but was having troubles with getting some to drop after beating his man in each of the last few games. That isn't my concern though, my concern is that he has zero range, isn't an exceptional athlete, and isn't much of a defender. I like, but don't love, him.

WCS can guard just about any position, will challenge any shot and alter most of those. He doesn't rebound, and he is not helpful in the least on offense. He still intrigues me because the skills he does have are pretty rare even in the NBA, but his advanced age is a concern.

Towns can play low or high, can challenge shots, etc. But the concerns I have with the fact that he seemed to disappear at times, and I feel like he really needs to get his body in better shape. Still probably our #1 match based on need and upside.

Winslow is one of my favorite players in this draft. I completely see James Harden in him except more selfless when attacking. I actually wish he would get the ball more because he knows how to attack a defense, and can finish. He also seems to have a solid basketball IQ. This guy has about 0 chance at busting. His low end potential is a solid starter, IMO. I think his game actually suits the NBA better than college game. Unfortunately, he's a SF which doesn't solve our ridiculous weaknesses at PF or C.

Russell is someone who grew on me the more I watched him play. I think the Brandon Roy type comparisons are fair because he doesn't blow you away with athleticism, but he has a very good handle and knows how to attack a defense. His defense is his knock, but make no mistake, he'll be a good offensive player at the next level.

[thedoper]

I still take Okafor now that the tournament dust has settled. I stand by the point that good defense is a much easier skill to learn that the post moves he has already. The tournament did vault Winslow up a few notches in my mind. I am not sure if I agree with the Harden comparison, he seems more of a power guard/wing (a la Lebron, Leonard, Artest). Not sure he has the offensive polish or handles of Harden.

My top 10 (for who I want on the Wolves) has changed a bit.

1. Okafor
2. Towns
3. Russell
4. Winslow
5. WCS
6. Muiday
7. Hezjona
8. Porzingis
9. Johnson
10. Myles Turner

[Monster]

I think something people don't realize is defense is an actual talent. Look at a guy like Martin. Sure sometimes he doesn't try but he is such a terrific basketball player it can't be just effort on that end. Some guys just aren't that good at defense just like some guys can try all they want and they can't score.